saints (n.) - NFL franchise presently based in New Orleans; boondoggle (n.) - an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity; saintsdoggle (n.) - the Saints' potential relocation situation in New Orleans, and the resulting boondoggle by Louisiana to keep the team from leaving

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Bills set to stay in Buffalo; How does it impact the Saints?

With most Saints fans' eyes focused on the upcoming NFL draft, the prospects of a franchise relocation are still running amiss in the background.

After much vocal criticism was heard from Buffalo on a potential Bills' relocation, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue traveled there and reassured Bills fans that the team was going nowhere, according to this piece on espn.com.

The concern centers on the new NFL labor agreement, and its impact on small-market teams. Bills owner Ralph Wilson had been extremely concerned that after he passes away, the next owner would be forced to move the Bills to a larger market due to the profit-sharing model accepted by the owners earlier this year.

Tagliabue told reporters, "What we're striving to do is focus not just on the Buffalo Bills but on all the small market teams," and specifically noted Jacksonville, Kansas City, and Green Bay.

One team he did not specify is the New Orleans Saints. That could, of course, be a very minor oversight, but it is worth noting.

It's no secret that Buffalo has supported the Bills tremendously through the years, and Wilson absolutely does not want the team relocated anywhere.

Wilson's attitude is in stark contract to that of Tom Benson, who was negotiating a move to San Antonio just a few months ago, and was openly criticising the Saints fan base prior to Hurricane Katrina.

Buffalo is on some people's lists of teams that could relocate to Los Angeles, as per the NFL's stated goal. Other teams include Jacksonville, San Diego, and New Orleans.

If Buffalo is a no-go, it increases the odds that the Saints could find a new zip code before the end of the decade.

And here's something else to chew on - if the Saints decide to draft ex-USC QB Matt Leinart, and keep him, the writing is on the wall in permanent marker.